EDC 102h F10 Outside Influences - JasonA

Jason Allard

EDC 102H

September 15, 2010

My Family’s Educational Impact

Some children are driven by their own need to succeed while others are strongly

encouraged by their family to thrive in school. I believe that I belong to both groups. I have

always had an interest in education, and although I attribute this to my personality I know that

my family has had a much bigger impact on this aspect of my life. I was raised by a small

immediate family but a huge extended family. My mum alone had seven brothers and seven

sisters, all from the same two parents. My father has two sisters and a brother. Of course, coming

from a family this huge meant that there were plenty of professions in the mix. I had aunts and

uncles in professions that ranged from the air force to a neurosurgeon, and even a marine

mechanic. Now that I think about it, I should really give more credit to my family for helping me

get to where I am today.


My immediate family consists of my sister and parents. They have always motivated me

to do well in school by just expecting me to do well. I was never put under pressure or bribed to

succeed. Actually, I would usually just copy what my older sister did because I looked up to her

so much. If she did well then I wanted to do well, and if she made a mistake I’d learn from it and

be ready. My sister has always been a well educated person, so it definitely worked to my

advantage that she was a great role model. Similarly, my parents also encouraged me to do the

best I could my praising my good work and helping me improve on my weaknesses. My father

had not graduated high school and my mum never attended college, so for my sister and I to go

was expected. It’s not that we were forced to go, we just knew it would be the best choice.


My extended family has influenced my education in a much more specific way. Having

over twenty five aunts and uncles has granted me a bounty of cousins. They range in age from

three to thirty and have gotten the opportunity to watch them as they grow. Fortunately, I was

able to bank in on this and have a secure babysitting job for most of my life. While the pay was

good I learned that I would love to work with children when I got older. This helped fuel my

interest in childhood education and child psychology. Eventually, it led to my choice of a major

in college. In this way my family has helped me decide what I want to do for the rest of my life.


My younger cousins were always great to play and talk with. I know that not all children

will be as good as them, but it didn’t hinder my decision of wanting to work with them. They

were always so curious about everything and came out with the funniest things. My aunts and

uncles would tell me how they would recite what I’d say and try to dress like me after I left. I

learned that I could be a great influence while they are at such an impressionable age. The kids in

my family are great, although I may consider dabbling in clinical psychology after talking with

some of my more “interesting” family members.


My family has easily helped shape me to be the person I am today with regards to my

education. I like to think that I have a solid amount of self motivation and some natural smarts of

my own, but I’ll give credit to them. One thing that’s for sure is the amount of topics and

professions they have exposed me to and how it’s helped me be a more knowledgeable person.

I’m fortunate to have a large family and extremely supportive immediate family. I can’t see

myself where I am today without their help throughout the years.